Load cushion

ABSTRACT

A meshing jaws-type flexible coupling and an individual cushion between each adjacent pair of jaws, the cushion having retaining shoulders limiting inward radial movement of the cushion, axially directed spring projections and convex jaw-contacting surfaces and a ribbed band securing the cushions in place.

United States Patent Patel 1 Jan. 25, 1972 54] LOAD CUSHION 2,841,9677/1958 Baker ..64/16 2,899,808 8/1959 Berens..... ..64/l4 [72] Inventor:Ramln A. Patel, Oak Park, Ill. 2 99 900 3 951 Fermi 4 4 [73] Assisnee:Lovejoy, Inc River Forest, 1. 3,396,556 8/1968 Glegerrlch ..64/14 [22]Filed: Jan. 30, 1970 Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague [21] pp No:7,163 Attorney-Parker, Carter & Markey [57] ABSTRACT (gill "64471146, Ameshing jaws typc flexible coupling and an individual [58] i 27 NMcushion between each adjacent pair ofjaws, the cushion havo ingretaining shoulders limitinginward radial movement of the [56] RekrenmCited cushion, axially directed spring projections and convex jaw-UNITED STATES PATENTS contacting surfaces and a ribbed band securing thecushions in place.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LOAD cosmos SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aflexible coupling assembly including coupling blocks havinginterpenetrating circumferentially spaced jaws, individual cushionspositioned between each pair of adjacent jaws, the cushions havingoppositely directed shoulders engaging the outer surfaces of the jaws,axially projecting abutments limiting axial interpenetration of the jawsand convex jaw-contacting surfaces preloading the coupling assembly,each cushion having a lateral groove bisecting its outermost surface andshoulders and a band retaining said cushions in said coupling, the bandhaving a flat ringlike portion engaging said outermost surface of saidcushion and shoulders and a depending central rib seated in saidgrooves.

This invention relates to flexible couplings of the meshing jaw type andhas particular relation to a coupling assembly including individual loadcushions positioned between each pair of adjacent jaws.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a load cushion of maximumsimplicity and economy in manufacture and use.

Another purpose is to provide a load cushion which may be easily andsimply individually removed and replaced.

Another purpose is to provide a coupling cushion and retaining means ofminimum outside diameter.

Another purpose is to provide a coupling assembly including individualload cushions retained in the assembly by a flat band having a dependingrib engaging grooves in said cushions.

Another purpose is to provide a flexible coupling assembly havingindividual cushions, said cushions having integral separating andpositioning means engaging and spacing the coupling members.

Another purpose is to provide a flexible coupling assembly havingindividual cushions, the jaw-contacting surfaces of which are convex toprovide a preload effect on the cushions and jaws.

Another purpose is to provide a flexible coupling assembly havingindividual cushions, the cushions having integrally formed shouldersengaging the outer surfaces of adjacent jaws and limiting the radialinward penetration of said cushions.

Other purposes may appear from time to time during the course of thespecification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is illustrated more orless diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a cushion of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a cushion of the invention.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specificationand claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,and particularly to FIG. 1, a shaft ll carries a disklike coupling block2 from which axially projecting jaws 3 extend in circumferentiallyspaced relationshi A second shaft 4 carries a similar block 5 from whichjaws 6 project axially in circumferentially spaced relationship, thejaws 3 and 6 being sufficiently spaced to provide for radially directed,parallel walled spaces between adjacent pairs of the jaws 3, 6 when saidjaws are in intermeshed or interpenetrating relationship. As is wellunderstood, one of the blocks 4, 5 is a driving and the other a drivenblock.

Identical cushions 7 are positioned between each adjacent pair of jaws3, 6. The cushions 7 are retained in operative position by acircumferential band 8.

Each of the cushions 7, which are preferably formed of yieldable,rubberlike material in a single integral piece, includes a body portion10 generally rectilinear in cross-sectional configuration and in sideelevation. The bod 10 includes a lower end surface 11. At its oppositeend the y 10 includes integral, oppositely directed shoulders l2, 13.The shoulders l2, 13 extend from and overhang the jaw-contacting mainside surfaces 14, 15 of the cushions 7 and extend the full lateraldimension of the sides l4, 15.

The end surfaces l6, 17 of the cushions 7 have integrally formedtherewith and substantially centrally projecting therefrom the buttonsor projections 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the surfaces l4, 15 are convex intheir extension from the shoulders 12, 13 to the end surface 11,providing a preload effect upon the cushions 7.

Formed in the outer end surface of the cushion 7 is an outwardly opengroove 20 paralleling the end surfaces l6, l7 and positionedintermediately thereof, the groove 20 extending through both shouldersl2, 13.

The ring or band 8 includes a flat portion 21 effective to engage asubstantial portion of the end surface and shoulders of the cushion 7 onopposite sides of the groove 20 and a depending central annular rib 22designed for reception within and contact with the bottom of groove 20in the cushions 7. The opposite ends of the band 8 conveniently includeinterpenetrating loops or hinge portion through which a connecting pin23 extends to band the ring 8 in the cushion-clamping positionillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The cushions of the invention may be placed in the recesses or spacesbetween adjacent jaws and individually removed and replaced as requiredwithout disassembly of the shafts l, 4 or coupling blocks 2, 5. Thebuttons or projections 18 engage and assure predetermined spacing of theblocks 2, 5, as well as positioning of the cushion 7. Shoulders l2, l3limit the radial inward traverse of the cushions 7 and preclude anynecessity for inner supporting elements beneath the inner end surfaces11 of the cushions 7. The band 8 clamps the shoulders 12, 13 to theouter surfaces of the jaws 3, 6 and the groove 20 engages rib 22 toretain the band 8 against axial movement. A preloading effect isaccomplished by the convex configuration of the surfaces 14, 15 of bodyportion 10 of the cushions 7.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A flexible coupling including a pair of coupling members havinginterpenetrating jaws positioned to provide circumferentially spacedareas between adjacent pairs of interpenetrating jaws, each pair of jawshaving opposed, flat, straight, parallel sides defining thecircumferential extension of one of said areas, individual load cushionspositioned one in each said area, each of said lead cushions having abody portion positioned between a pair of said opposed, flat sides ofadjacent jaws, the sides of said cushion body portions opposed to saidjaw sides being convex whereby a progressively greater area of said bodyportion is contacted by its opposed jaw side as said area is reduced,each of said load cushions having oppositely directed, circumferentiallydisposed shoulder elements at its outer end, the shoulder elements ofeach of said cushions engaging the outer'edge surfaces only of a set ofadjacent, opposed jaws.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including an outwardlyopen, circumferentially directed groove disposed laterally on andbisecting the outer surface of each of said cushions and the shouldersthereof, a flat clamping band encircling said cushions, said bandengaging the outer surfaces of said cushions and the shoulders thereofand urging said shoulder portions against said outer jaw edge surfacesand an annular, inwardly extending rib on said band, said rib beingreceived within and occupying the entirety of said grooves.

1. A flexible coupling including a pair of coupling members havinginterpenetrating jaws positioned to provide circumferentially spacedareas between adjacent pairs of interpenetrating jaws, each pair of jawshaving opposed, flat, straight, parallel sides defining thecircumferential extension of one of said areas, individual load cushionspositioned one in each said area, each of said load cushions having abody portion positioned between a pair of said opposed, flat sides ofadjacent jaws, the sides of said cushion body portions opposed to saidjaw sides being convex whereby a progressively greater area of said bodyportion is contacted by its opposed jaw side as said area is reduced,each of said load cushions having oppositely directed, circumferentiallydisposed shoulder elements at its outer end, the shoulder elements ofeach of said cushions engaging the outer edge surfaces only of a set ofadjacent, opposed jaws.
 2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by andincluding an outwardly open, circumferentially directed groove disposedlaterally on and bisecting the outer surface of each of said cushionsand the shoulders thereof, a flat clamping band encircling saidcushions, said band enGaging the outer surfaces of said cushions and theshoulders thereof and urging said shoulder portions against said outerjaw edge surfaces and an annular, inwardly extending rib on said band,said rib being received within and occupying the entirety of saidgrooves.